Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Single Post - 2 years planning, 2 years sailing...was it worth it? ABSOLUTLY!!!

slomotion · 03-10-2007, 17:51

Our cruising grounds and style were very different from kingfish’s - Bahamas/Eastern Caribbean - mostly glorified day-sail island hopping. And yet our conclusions are almost 100% in agreement:

I wouldn’t replace an engine unless I had to. But if I did, I would probably upgrade the power - most production cruising boats are under powered. IMHO, the engine is the most important piece of equipment on a cruising sailboat. Even Hal Roth came to recognize them as a cruising essential. We spent many days in beautiful but coral head studded anchorages that I would not enter under many conditions and never enter at all even in the best of conditions without a strong reliable engine. And the idea that you will sail everywhere is simply unrealistic. We’re not sailors - we’re cruisers and sometimes you just have to motor/sail to safely get where you need to go.

#3 should be #2 - if you do not enjoy living on the boat, no amount of glorious days at sea or breathtakingly beautiful island beaches will keep you cruising. Most cruisers are couples and comfort level is intensely personal. You must be brutally honest with each other - there is a big difference between spending 2 weeks on a boat and spending 2 years on a boat. The boat must be a comfortable home for both of you. And yes, unless you have a very large boat, the V berth is for storage not sleeping (well, you can clear it out for the in-laws when they visit).

For the Bahamas/Caribbean wind power is a great supplement to solar - with a combination of the two, you can support a very large battery bank without the need to periodically run the engine and this only enhances your comfort level.

Watermakers are well worth the trouble and expense because they expand your cruising grounds, enhance your comfort level, and eliminate the need for bothersome docking or jerry-jugging. Also, the last thing you want to do is leave a protected anchorage in iffy conditions because you need to go somewhere else to get more water.

Nevertheless #1 is right on - Go simple, Go slow (see #6), and GO NOW:

http://www.boatus.com/cruising/littl.../200608_24.asp

03-10-2007, 17:51	#12
slomotion Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 865	Our cruising grounds and style were very different from kingfish’s - Bahamas/Eastern Caribbean - mostly glorified day-sail island hopping. And yet our conclusions are almost 100% in agreement: I wouldn’t replace an engine unless I had to. But if I did, I would probably upgrade the power - most production cruising boats are under powered. IMHO, the engine is the most important piece of equipment on a cruising sailboat. Even Hal Roth came to recognize them as a cruising essential. We spent many days in beautiful but coral head studded anchorages that I would not enter under many conditions and never enter at all even in the best of conditions without a strong reliable engine. And the idea that you will sail everywhere is simply unrealistic. We’re not sailors - we’re cruisers and sometimes you just have to motor/sail to safely get where you need to go. #3 should be #2 - if you do not enjoy living on the boat, no amount of glorious days at sea or breathtakingly beautiful island beaches will keep you cruising. Most cruisers are couples and comfort level is intensely personal. You must be brutally honest with each other - there is a big difference between spending 2 weeks on a boat and spending 2 years on a boat. The boat must be a comfortable home for both of you. And yes, unless you have a very large boat, the V berth is for storage not sleeping (well, you can clear it out for the in-laws when they visit). For the Bahamas/Caribbean wind power is a great supplement to solar - with a combination of the two, you can support a very large battery bank without the need to periodically run the engine and this only enhances your comfort level. Watermakers are well worth the trouble and expense because they expand your cruising grounds, enhance your comfort level, and eliminate the need for bothersome docking or jerry-jugging. Also, the last thing you want to do is leave a protected anchorage in iffy conditions because you need to go somewhere else to get more water. Nevertheless #1 is right on - Go simple, Go slow (see #6), and GO NOW: http://www.boatus.com/cruising/littl.../200608_24.asp Last edited by slomotion; 03-10-2007 at 18:09.